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Friday, June 7, 2013

Fire Stats: May was a Busy Month for Firefighters

Firefighters on ODF's Southwest Oregon District responded to 70 wildfires in May, more than three times the 10-year average. The springtime outbreak of wildfire burned 190 acres, a whopping five times higher than the 1--year average.

No. of fires 2013

Acres burned
2013

No. of fires 10-yr
avg

Acres burned
10-yr-avg

Medford Unit

32

25

12

21

Grants Pass Unit

38

165

8

19

SWO District

70

190

20

40

A significant cause of May's fires was lightning. Twenty-four fires were caused by thunderstorms May 5-6, but burned only 15 acres. People have caused the greatest number of fires and the biggest fires so far in 2013, the largest being the 115-acre vehicle-caused Beacon Hill Fire which broke out Friday, May 31. Escaped debris burning fires this spring accounted for 25 wildfires that burned a total of 25 acres.

Since fire season began June 3, the number of debris burning-caused fires has plummeted.